Fluid-level indicator



H. HASTINGS. FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR. APPLICATION HLED Amp. 1919.

Patented Jan. 11,1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT HASTINGS, or BRIGHTON, NEW roux. I

FLUID-LEVEL INDICATOR.

Application filed April 9, 1919. Serial No. 288,840.

. T all whom it may concern Level Indicators, of which the following isa specification.

' This invention relates particularly to indicators such as may be usedfor indicating the level of the oil in the crank cases or oil pans ofautomotive motors but obviously may be used in other applications.

An object of the invention is to simplify the construction of such anindicator and to reduce to a minimumthe number of parts which transmitthe motion of the float to the pointer.

Other objects and features of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of the particular embodiment of my invention asdescribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure1, is a partial sectional view in ele vation, taken on the verticalcentral plane of one of my devices.

Fig. 2, is a plan view of the head of the device shown in Fig. 1,looking normally to the plane of the dial.

Fig. 3, is a partial sectional view in elevation, taken on the plane X Xof Fig. 1.

Fig. 4, is a view of the instrument shown in Fig. 1, looking upwardly ina line parallel to the stem or rod therein.

Fig. 5, is a plan view of the head portion only of the body 1.

Fig. 6, is a plan view of the dial showing the integral ears in dottedlines.

Fig. 7, is a view looking at the edge of the dial and showing the earsdown-turned.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts throughout the severalviews of the drawings.

1 is a convenient form of hollow body which is provided at its upper endwith a circular head which is provided externally with screw threads 1,and in the upper face with a circular recess 1 and is also provided witha bearing boss 1 spaced down fromthe recess 1 and this boss isperforated ceive bolts by which the body is heldito the .taching thedial in place thereon. is also perforated at 6 to allow the pointer fSpecification of Letters Patent. Patent d J 11 1 2 oil chamber or'pan,shown in dotted lines.

There is also provided near the center of this flange portion, a bearingboss 1 which is provided with a perforation 1*. Also at this end theinside 'wall of the casting is provided with stop recesses l which aremachined with a predetermined relation to the perforation 1 for thepurpose hereafter set forth.

2 is a pointer stem and float rod combined in a one piece unit, at itsupper end it is adapted to receive a pointer 3, at its lower end itisadapted to receive a float 4 which is retained on the. rod by a washer 5through which the rod. passes and outside of which the rod is flattenedor upset to hold the washer against the float. Intermediate of the endsthis rod is provided with an offset or crank portion 2 the two foldpurpose of which is to act as a means of limiting the angular travel ofthe stem by contacting with the stop recesses 1 and also to act as ashoulder on the rod to bear against the under side of the boss 1 toretain the stem from upward motion in the direction of its axis.

6 is a dial which is adapted to occupy the recess 1 in the body and isprovided with downwardly projecting, locating and retaining ears 6adapted to engage the holes 1 in the body thus locating and at- The dialstem to pass therethrough, and is provided with a graduated scale 6 uponwhich are indicated markings corresponding with the the pointerstem-directly underneath the pointer and has the double function of aspacer to position'the pointer a predeter- .position of thepointer atthe relative float mined fdistance above the dial, and of athrust washerbearing against the dial to retain the pointer stem against downwardmotion in the direction of its axis.

8- is a compressible retaining washer surrounding the pointer stemand iscompressed between the dial 6 andthe bearing boss 1 to restrain thepassage of 011 or v9, or into the space above the dial.

he cap, glass and gasket asembly here i shown is the same as shown in myprevious application Serial No. 245,412 and therefore is not claimed aspart of my present invention.

From the above it will be seen that as the surface of the liquid,,onwhich the float is carried, rises, the float travels with it but sinceit is constrained to travel in a plane at right angle toWahe axis of thepointer stem and since the latter is free to revolve on this axis, thefloat rises and falls with the surface of the liquid but ina directionoblique therewith and thus operates to rotate the pointer stemproportional to the changein level of the liquid in which the float is'suspended.

Having thus described my invention in general, what I claim as newanddesire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a fluid level indicator,a body provided with journal bearings, a rod mounted to oscillate insaid bearings and provided againstthe stem and between the dial andbearing to resist the passage of fluid along the stem, a float and apointer mounted on opposite ends ofthe stem.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence'oftwowitnesses.

HERBERT HASTINGS.

Witnesses:

RALPH J. SEXTON, EDNA,M. OARMODY.

